Neotinea lactea

Summary

Neotinea lactea, the milky orchid, is a species of orchid found in Europe from France to Turkey and in two North African countries: Algeria and Tunisia.[1] Its flowers are pale to light pink, reflecting its Latin root lacteus (milky).[2]

Milky orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Genus: Neotinea
Species:
N. lactea
Binomial name
Neotinea lactea
(Poir.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
Synonyms
  • Neotinea corsica (Viv.) W.Foelsche
  • Neotinea lactea subsp. corsica (Viv.) Kreutz
  • Neotinea lactea var. corsica (Viv.) P.Delforge
  • Neotinea lactea f. hanrii (Jord.) P.Delforge
  • Neotinea lactea f. minuscula (A.Alibertis) P.Delforge
  • Odontorchis lactea (Poir.) D.Tyteca & E.Klein
  • Orchis acuminata Desf.
  • Orchis corsica Viv.
  • Orchis hanrici Hénon
  • Orchis hanrii Jord.
  • Orchis lactea Poir.
  • Orchis lactea subsp. corsica (Viv.) Kreutz
  • Orchis lactea subsp. minuscula A.Alibertis
  • Orchis tenoreana Guss.
  • Orchis tridentata var. hanrii (Jord.) Sigunov

The species were first described in 1798 by Poiret from Algeria.[3]

Description edit

Neotinea lactea is a robust polycarpic geophyte of 10 to 25 cm high when flowering. The flower stem has a round cross-section with a rosette of 4 to 6 leaves at the base and is slightly ribbed at the top, with several smaller leaves sheathing the stem higher up. The many small flowers form a dense cluster of up to 7 cm long and oval or cylindrical in shape.[4][5]

Habitat edit

Neotinea lactea prefers a dry calcareous soil with full sun to semi-shaded light. Plants can be found up to 1800 m elevation on calcareous grasslands, abandoned olive orchards, exposed locations in a garrigue and open forests.

References edit

  1. ^ "Neotinea lactea". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Neotinea lactea (Poir.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase". Funghi in Italia - Fiori in Italia - Forum Micologia e Botanica. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  3. ^ "Neotinea lactea". www.orchidsofbritainandeurope.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  4. ^ "Neotinea tridentata subsp. lactea - Milky Orchid". First Nature. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Orchis couleur de lait Neotinea lactea". Tela Botanica. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  • Ouvrage collectif sous l'Egide de la Société Français d'Orchidophilie, 1998.: Les Orchidées de France, Belgique et Luxembourg, Collection Parthenope, ISBN 2-9510379-1-0
  • Pierre Delforge, 1994.:Guide des orchidées d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Proche-Orient, Delachaux et Niestlé, ISBN 2-603-01323-8

External links edit

  •   Media related to Neotinea lactea at Wikimedia Commons